Rapid urbanisation stressing Ha Noi's traffic infrastructure

HA NOI (VNS) — Although the Hoang Mai district's Linh Nam street in the south of Ha Noi is just three kilometres long, five apartment projects are under construction in this area.

The infrastructure of the street has not been upgraded for a decade, making it "the most miserable street" in the south of the capital.

Nguyen Huy Thuy, a resident living on Linh Nam street said the construction of the projects continues to encroach on the street, making it crowded from 4pm to 6pm every day, leaving no room for even pedestrians.

A saleswoman living on this street named Do Ngoc Lan said: "Trucks coming across construction sites demolish the road, making it seriously deteriorated and full of potholes."

The route linking Trung Kinh and Le Van Luong street in the west of Ha Noi is facing the same problems.

"Two years ago, Trung Kinh – Le Van Luong route was still clear, but now with a dozen apartment projects under construction and expected to be put into use in 2016, the route is always overcrowded during peak hours," Nguyen Thi Thuy, a resident living in this area, said.

"Then environmental pollution is likely to come along," Thuy added.

In the neighboring area, The Trung Hoa – Nhan Chinh residential quarter has seen the fastest urbanisation in the capital, with a series of high-rise buildings springing up recently, the Tin Tuc (News) newspaper reported.

Thuy said some parts of this area had been planned to be used as a parking lot but then they were turned into housing projects or commercial complexes while internal roads were occupied by private parking lots, making the local residents very frustrated.

In addition, many other apartment projects have been constructed in poor infrastructure conditions, putting pressure on local public infrastructure.

Hongkong Tower high-rise building being built at La Thanh street, one of the busiest streets in the inner city during peak hours, consists of two towers with a total of 260 apartments. It is expected to cause pressure on traffic when it is put into operation, and so does the Nang Huong project being built at Nguyen Trai street in the west of Ha Noi.

Besides, these projects' drainage system, sewage treatment and water supply are not guaranteed, and neither is fire safety.

Overall plan

According to urban experts, urbanisation in Ha Noi in recent years has developed very quickly while traffic infrastructure systems in the city are being degraded.

"Traffic jams tend to increase due to rapid urbanisation. In the short term, the department is working on improving traffic management," said Deputy director of the Ha Noi's Department of Transport Nguyen Xuan Tan.

Tan suggested that the investment in transport infrastructure should be accompanied with the implementation of housing construction projects.

"The infrastructure of many areas and roads are overloaded but tall buildings are still springing up, leading to many implications, especially the failures of infrastructure projects such as parking lots, schools and parks." Liem said. — VNS